Music and Young Adult Literature.

Music and Young Adult Literature by Steve Bickmore

Every once and awhile I am required to write for my own blog. 

I am going to take the opportunity to talk about an area of YA Literature that I absolutely love. I love YA novels that are immersed in music.  It doesn't seem to matter if it is kids in a band, kids using music to connect, or a way of making social commentary. Even within this subgenre there are categories  that seems to be unique -- books about DJs, boys in the band, kids learning to play, classical music, popular music, books that become movies, books that are autobiographical, books that use music as a sound track, and who knows how many variations there might be.  I like them all. Yet there are five that come to mind every time I have this conversation with someone about this fabulous subgenre. 

I have admired these books for a long time. With four of these books I have meet and chatted with the authors about their book and the impact they have had on my reading life. They provide pure enjoyment. They hold up when I read them a second time. 

A couple of weeks ago I finally caught up with the author of the fifth book, This Song Will Save Your Life, Leila Sales. 

Below, I will briefly discuss the five books and, for the grand finale, I will discuss the fifth book and link to a conversation with Liela Sales who is featured in Dr. Bickmore's YA Wednesay in Conversation on Aug. 29, 2024.

​Enjoy.

King Dork by Frank Portman

King Dork is a book that reminds my of my own adolescence.  In reality, I was probably a bigger dork. I didn't have enough courage to hangout with kids who were playing guitars and figuring out how shout our "G. L. O. R. Y. Glory" at the top of their lungs in a garage.

In King Dork, Frank Portman, the lead singer and constant member of the Bay area indie band, The Mr. T Experience, describe the ups and downs of being in a mediocre high school band.  One gets the feeling that Portman is describing versions of his on experiences learning to play music and struggling with popularity. 

I love the comic overtones of King Dork and love that Portman has a sequel, King Dork Approximately with sound track. Isn't that just perfect?

Check out Frank's webpage: ​https://frankportman.com/

Tyrell by Coe Booth

I first saw Coe Booth at an ALAN Workshop. Her presentation was great and I knew right away that her book, Tyrell, was moving to the top of my "To Be Read List".  This book is tour de force in capturing a teen and his family struggling to make ends meet after incarceration of his father. 

How does Tyrell cope with homelessness and the burden of trying to help ends meet as "the man of the house." Well, isn't the answer obvious? You dig out  your father's D. J. equipment from storage and you figure out a way to make a go of it in the music scene. 

To say this is a book about music is to underestimate its power and its impact as an important YA novel by an outstanding author.  The music, however, helps set the tone, develop the character, and advance the narrative. Don't let this one get away.

Check out Coe's Webpage: ​http://coebooth.com/

Breakout by Kevin Emerson

As a high school teacher for nearly 25 years I felt I knew Anthony, the lead character in Breakout. Kevin Emerson captures the excitement and the anger of kid who know he is smart, has talent, and is frustrated by his inability to be noticed in positive ways. 

Most of his teachers are uninterested, the girls are either out of his league or just not interested in the kid who is playing in a garage band, The Rusty Soles, in the school's Arts Night. 

All of this might screams nerd alert, but Anthony has a bigger problem, the powers that be are telling him he can't use the original lyrics to his song. What's a boy to do in the ever threatening world of censorship?

Check out Kevin's webpage: http://www.kevinemerson.net

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier

I first found Born Confused because I was reading a range of diverse books and was trying to a read books by Asian authors with roots that stretched into a variety of cultures. 

Hidier's book drew me in completely.  Dimple's story was riveting and represented a voice that was largely unrepresented in YA literature. Plus, it had music.

Tanuja Desai Hidier was a trailblazer and the book's success called for a follow-up sequel, Bombay Blues. Just like Portman, Hidier is a musician and Bombay Blues comes with a song track, Bombay Spleen. 

​If you are music fan and you haven't read this book. Get it right away.

Check out Tanuja's webpage: ​http://thisistanuja.com/

This Song will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales is a book that deserves a much bigger audience. I love this book. It really does have a large focus on music. Music is Elise's primary area of comfort. She has never really fit in with the other kids at school. Things just never quite work as she wears the wrong clothes, says the wrong thing, and misses all of the social clues around her.  Things get more difficult with her parents divorce and the fact that she has to split the week into living with one or the other of the parents. 

In the midst of the confusion, she realizes that she is alone: at school, at home, and in her own existence. This condition intensifies until wandering through her city at night, listening to music, she finds the the moving underground music scene, becomes a regular and, eventually, becomes an emerging DJ. Too good to be true? Well, of course it is, but, it is worth the read to figure out how Elise's survives all of the twists and turns of her life. 

Check out Leila's Webpage: https://leilasales.com/

Find our more about Elise and This Song Will Save Your Life during this conversation with the author Leila Sales.

Bonus! Here is a slide show with these five books and several more.

I am sure some of you could add several other books to the list, Send me a note and let me know.

Until next week.